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Depression

Depression is an extremely varied condition - the reasons why people feel depressed can vary hugely, some of the typical causes including stress, lack of sleep, bereavement, and disturbing events such as loss of a job.

What is very clear is that there is no one single magic cure for depression, despite some of the claims that have been made. Beware of the therapist offering a 'one size fits all' treatment. Every person who comes for therapy is an individual, and the treatment needs to be adapted to their specific needs.

Depression

What are some of the typical causes of depression?

being stressed for long periods of time (burnout)

lack of sleep (exhaustion)

grief due to bereavement and loss

feelings of frustration and failure due to lack of achievement and success

growing up in a family where one or more parents were themselves depressed

major life changes (such as post-natal depression)

breakdown of an important relationship

work-related depression, such as redundancy or being in an unsatisfying job

sexual difficulties

medical conditions, such as thyroid deficiency and ME

having been bullied, victimised or criticised

past experiences of abuse

suffering a trauma

negative thought patterns and beliefs

lack of meaning and purpose (mid-life crisis)

social isolation and loneliness

nutritional deficiencies

These causes can be grouped together into the general categories of medical and physical problems, emotional problems, problems of thinking and beliefs, life circumstances, past history and personality.

Depression

It is important to realise that the issues that caused the depression may not be the same as the factors that are maintaining it. For example the loss of a job may cause someone to become depressed, but it may be a lack of purposeful activity (staying in bed, watching TV all day) that maintains the depression.

With such a wide range of possible causes, there is no simple "one size fits all" treatment for depression. Some possible options include:

Medication for depression

As a counsellor and psychotherapist I encourage my clients to avoid antidepressants if possible, as they tend to mask feelings and make the work of therapy harder. However there are times when taking an antidepressant can be the best option, particularly when the feelings ofdepression are so strong that the sufferer feels suicidal or unable to function. Most people don't like the thought of being on medication long term, but combining it with counselling or psychotherapy can reduce the length of time it needs to be used.

Counselling and Psychotherapy

These can help by exploring the underlying causes of depression and resolving them. Counselling tends to be more focussed on causes in the present, and psychotherapy looks more at the past, but there is considerable overlap in the way counsellors and psychotherapists work

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

CBT focuses on the negative and limiting thought patterns which underlie some forms of depression, and can offer exercises and techniques for changing these patterns and behaviours.

CBT was originally developed specifically to treat depression, and in recent years it has received considerable publicity about it's effectiveness in treating this disorder (for example the Layard Report). Despite this I am not convinced that CBT lives up to all that is claimed for it in treating depression. It certainly has a role to play, and for certain types of depression it may well be the most effective treatment, but in my clinical experience it does not have the monopoly of efficacy that it's supporters claim.

Complementary and Body Therapy

There are a wide range of complementary therapies which can address some of the physical causes of depression. Examples include reflexology, body massage, Yoga and nutritional therapy.

Life Coaching

Where depression is linked to feelings of failure, lack of achievement, dissatisfaction with career and other life-related issues, then life coaching can provide a very practical way of turning things round. It does not attempt to look at causes in the past, but instead focusses on making changes in your present attitudes, beliefs and behaviour which will bring positive changes in your life.

Psychosynthesis

Where depression comes from a mid-life crisis, accompanied by feelings of loss of meaning and purpose, then this can be addressed by therapies such as psychosynthesis. Psychosynthesis includes many of the techniques of counselling, psychotherapy, CBT and life coaching, but adds another dimension which can be described as spiritual or transpersonal.

The Hope Street Centre is an independent centre located in the attractive rural market town of Sandbach in South Cheshire, with easy access to the M6 motorway and the railway network at Crewe. The centre is readily accessible from the neighbouring towns of Congleton, Alsager, Middlewich, Holmes Chapel, Knutsford, Crewe, Kidsgrove, Winsford, Northwich, Warrington and Stoke on Trent.